An array of activities will commemorate the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Craven and Jones counties through next week.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship and Awards Committee will present several events leading toward Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.

There is a New Bern parade on Saturday, a Sunday banquet and a memorial service on Jan. 20.

The parade lineup is at 10 a.m. Saturday and starts at noon from the area of the George Street Senior Center.

Grand marshals for the parade are Buzzy Stubbs and Eileen Dove, who will oversee a ribbon-cutting opening ceremony in front of the senior center at 11:30 a.m.

“There will be prayer offered by clergy from all over the city, from various racial backgrounds and various faith-belief systems,” said the Rev. DeVes Toon. “This year we have more than 40 groups and floats and we are looking for a great turnout.”

The route goes from George to Broad Street, taking a right traveling west toward Dayspring Christian Center. Toon said a drum line performance by the church will follow the parade in the vacant lot between Armstrong Grocery and the New Bern Fire Department.

It is at 4 p.m. at the NWA Tabernacle, 1002 Ten Mile Fork Road near Trenton. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Joseph George of New Bern, a former school principal in Jones County.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship and Awards Committee’s annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet is Sunday at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. Seating begins at 4:30 p.m., and the banquet begins at 6 p.m.

The keynote speaker is Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr. from Florida. The musical guest is Dottie Peoples.

“We want to show the range of faith that exists in the city of New Bern, with folks of all different races, all different faith-belief systems, all different groups who can come together in Martin Luther King’s vision of a beloved community,” Toon said. “We have reached out to all folks. No matter what your political views or background are, we ask that folks put that aside and we are going to come together and honor Dr. King and find ways to build bridges and work together as a productive community.”

The banquet event is hosted by Valentina Wilson, with co-host Anna Bulszewicz.

Admission is $45. Call 638-1518 or 444-2543 for information.

Banquet catering is provided by The Flame.

The memorial service is at noon on Monday at St. Peters AME Zion Church at 617 Queen St. in New Bern.

Page 2 of 2 - The keynote speaker is Tamika Mallory.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship and Awards Committee is a nonprofit incorporated organization which is community-based, with a history of service to the community.

On the web: mlksac.org

In a Tuesday event, the students and staff of New Bern’s J.T. Barber Elementary School will participate in a “Silent March for Peace” on Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. on the school grounds to honor King’s legacy.

The students and staff will walk in silence throughout the school grounds, holding their homemade candles, crafted in their art classes.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or charlie.hall@newbernsj.com.